OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Rookie Steve Francis decided to
go from his black headband to a white one after a tough first
half and the ensuing results were like night and day.

Francis scored 10 of his 19 points in the third quarter, lifting
the Rockets to a 108-100 victory over the lifeless Golden State
Warriors, who matched their season-high 11-game losing streak.

In what was supposed to be Hakeem Olajuwon's first game back
after missing 20 due to an inguinal hernia, the Rockets relied
on their rookie point guard while their legendary center took
another game off after being activated from the injured list
earlier today.

Olajuwon did not join the team in Oakland and is expected to be
back for Monday's game in Dallas, likely skipping Saturday's
visit to Chicago.

Francis, the only first-year player currently leading his team
in scoring, managed just four points over the first 24 minutes,
misfiring on 7-of-8 shots in the half.

"In the first half what was I, 1-for-9?" Francis asked.

The Rockets managed to pull even just before the break on Bryce
Drew's desperation 3-pointer that barely beat the buzzer and
forged a 53-53 tie.

Francis made the headband change count, hitting a 3-pointer, a
layup and a dunk during a decisive third-quarter run to give the
Rockets a 65-59 lead with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter.

"I felt the black headband looked good at first," Francis added.
"I just wanted to try something different, but it blended in
with my hair. I just switched up and wore the white in the
second half. After that I just played more aggressively."

His layup with 20 seconds left in the period gave Houston an
80-74 advantage. The speedy 6-3, 193-pounder out of Maryland had
10 assists and grabbed seven boards for Houston, which snapped a
seven-game road losing streak.

"Bryce's shot at the end of the second quarter really boosted us
but our big men won this game for us tonight," Francis said.
"Golden State leads the league in offensive rebounds, don't
they? We did a hell of a job on the boards. It makes you feel
that much better about basketball because of how hard it is to
win in the NBA. Even at home it's hard to win. I think we
never gave up."

Backcourt mate Cuttino Mobley, also wearing a headband, scored
14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to keep the Rockets in
front as they posted their first win in five games.

"I was lucky in the fourth quarter," Mobley said. "I've been in
a slump in fourth quarters. I just played hard and the shots
went in. I don't remember having a quarter like that ever."

Veteran point guard Mookie Blaylock played a solid game for the
Warriors, collecting 25 points, six rebounds and 11 assists. But
the Warriors fell to 0-29 when trailing after three quarters and
matched their 11-game skid from November 17-December 8. Golden
State is 0-8 since general manager Garry St. Jean took over the
coaching duties from P.J. Carlesimo.

"We were not cohesive on either end of the floor," St. Jean
said. "This allowed them to get the shots they needed, whether
it was off the drive or penetration and kick out to the open
man. They had it their way tonight."

Houston has won eight straight visits to Golden State and has
taken 24 of the last 27 meetings overall.

"We've been double beat up," Tomjanovich said. "We just hung in
there and made some big plays late in the game. It's a big
emotional win for us. It's good to feel the guys going out and
not feeling sorry for ourselves. Our effort was unbelievable. I
enjoyed the hell out of it."

Shandon Anderson scored 17 points for the Rockets, who shot 43
percent (43-of-101) and held a 51-47 advantage on the boards.
Rookie Kenny Thomas had 13 points and 12 rebounds and Walt
Williams added 13 points for Houston, which forced 20 turnovers.

Anthony Miller started at center for Houston and grabbed 13
boards to go with five points in 27 minutes before fouling out.
Drew scored 10 points to give the Rockets six players in double
figures.

Jason Caffey had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors, who
shot 46 percent (37-of-81) and failed to post their first win
since a 111-99 victory over Sacramento on December 20.

"At critical points in the game, we had a mental lapse," Golden
State forward Antawn Jamison said. "So we're not there when
we're supposed to be. Tonight was probably the best example of
that. Throughout the whole game we were in it, then all of a
sudden toward the end, we weren't doing what we were supposed to
do on defense. We weren't rotating the way we were supposed to.
Things like that hurt you."

Former Rocket Sam Mack buried an 18-footer to give the Rockets a
57-56 lead with 9:40 remaining in the third quarter. Anderson
converted a three-point play and Francis followed with a layup
as Houston went in front for good, 61-57, with 9:07 left.

Mack made another jumper but Williams and Miller each made a
free throw before Francis' slam stretched the margin to 65-59
wtih 6:47 left.

Caffey's layup with 10:29 to play pulled the Warriors within
one, but Bill Curley, signed by the Rockets earlier today, made
a layup and Mobley hit two free throws to make it 84-79 with
9:30 remaining.

The Warriors stayed within striking distance but Francis scored
on consecutive trips and the Rockets opened a 102-96 lead on
Mobley's layup with 2:06 to go. Miller's layup with 1:27
remaining sealed the win.